Doctor of Philosophy Program

Doctoral studies consist of selected courses and independent research culminating in a dissertation. Each student’s degree plan is individually formulated through consultation with a faculty advisory committee. Recent dissertation research studies have included topics in the civil engineering specialty areas of structural engineering, engineering mechanics, geotechnical engineering, geoenvironmental engineering, water resources engineering, wind engineering, environmental engineering, and computational mechanics.

Typically, students with M.S. degrees in engineering programs enter the civil engineering doctoral program. Students with graduate degrees in non-engineering sciences initially may be accepted subject to completing specified leveling courses in civil engineering. Students with master’s degrees in civil or environmental engineering who have not completed courses equivalent to the core courses required for the M.S.C.E. degree will be required to satisfactorily complete the missing core courses at the earliest opportunity. Degree and tool course requirements are detailed in the latest edition of the Texas Tech University Graduate Catalog. Doctoral degree plans are individually prepared in consultation with a faculty advisor and usually comprise courses listed with CE or ENVE prefixes, but the degree plan often includes courses outside the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering and the Whitacre College of Engineering.

Current Research

Some of the current and recently completed research studies in the Texas Tech University Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering include:

Interactive computer program for predicting shrink/swell and design of post-tensioned slabs on expansive soils

Single-vehicle accidents on rural divided highways

Traffic light synchronization

Analysis of pavements with flexible reinforcement

Performance testing of field measurement systems for full scale trafficked pavements

Analysis of frictional properties of aggregates

Soundness tests for pavement aggregates

Wind drag coefficients for octagonal shapes

Vibration mitigation of traffic signal structures

Building frequency response to fluctuating wind pressures

Mathematical modeling of structural glazing systems

Finite element modeling of plates on elastic foundations

Variational modeling of footing vibrations

Dynamic testing of laminated glass

Fatigue behavior of structural silicone sealant

Strength analysis of weathered window glass

Strength analysis of fully tempered glass

Wind pressures on full scale buildings

Assessment of wind gust factors

Wind-induced changes in building internal pressures

Wind pressure distribution on single-ply ballasted roof systems

Wind-induced peak pressures in roof corners

Building categorization for wind resistance

Admission

Admission requirements to Texas Tech University and the Whitacre College of Engineering are detailed in the latest
Texas Tech University Graduate Catalog. Students who wish to be admitted to the Ph.D. program in civil engineering at Texas Tech University must meet requirements beyond the minimum Graduate Record Examination score and Grade Point Average established by the Graduate School. Admission is granted only to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional academic, research, and professional achievement potential, and who have demonstrated the maturity to formulate their own academic and research programs. Specific admission requirements to the doctoral program of the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering include acceptance by the Graduate Faculty. Students entering the doctoral program not possessing baccalaureate degrees from engineering programs may be required to take leveling engineering courses to prepare them for advanced course work. Additionally, applicants for the doctoral program must receive approval of a separate application to the Graduate Faculty of the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering before being fully admitted.

Graduate Courses

Click on the links below to view graduate course offerings in Civil, Environmental, and Construction Engineering.